Circus Of Values

"Annie Get Your Gun" One of the Best Show Ever at Music Circus

Everything, including the play, cast, choreography, direction, costuming and set design, comes together to produce a near-perfect show of “Annie Get Your Gun,” which opened at Music Circus Tuesday night.

The original producers of “Annie Get Your Gun,” Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, no slouches at musical theater music and lyrics themselves, persuaded a reluctant Irving Berlin to write the music and lyrics for the show when Jerome Kern died suddenly.

Berlin is considered to be the preeminent American songwriter, and he created some of his most popular music for “Annie Get Your Gun.” It has song after song that became popular hits, including the opening song, “There’s No Business Like Show Business.”

The book by brother and sister Herbert and Dorothy Fields is as good as the music. Based loosely on the life of Annie Oakley and her husband Frank Butler, it is a touching story with lots of funny moments. The story had as strong a reaction from the audience as the music did.

Music Circus could not have found a better actor to play Annie than Beth Malone. She has the perfect speaking accent and voice to perform the role. She fit the role perfectly, even completely looking the part, and had the audience with her the whole way.

Edward Watts as Frank Butler easily matches Malone. His powerful voice and good looks are perfect for Butler. What makes it even better is the two have great chemistry. It was easy to hear the audience cheer on the relationship between Frank and Annie, Watts and Malone received huge ovations to their duets, including “The Girl That I Marry” and “Anything You Can Do.”

The audience also affectionately booed and hissed Dolly Tate, Annie’s rival for Frank’s affection. Music Circus veteran Heather Lee plays Dolly’s firm conviction well.

Another Music Circus vet who is a huge standout is Ron Wisniski as “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Wisniski has been great in many roles the last several Music Circus seasons, but this could be his best performance yet.

The other actors who deserve to be singled out are the three young performers from the Music Circus Junior Company playing Annie’s younger siblings. Zac Ballard, who was one of the littlest ones in Fagin’s Gang in “Oliver!” is Little Little Jake. Sisters Haley and Rachel Finerman are both in their third Music Circus productions playing Jessie and Nellie Oakley. All three held their own with the adults and were audience favorites.

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